Catatonic coma with profound bradycardia.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Catatonia may be monosymptomatic at presentation, with stupor or coma as the cardinal and only manifestation. A case of catatonic coma with profound bradycardia is presented to help clinicians recognize this entity and include catatonia in the differential diagnosis of coma as a rare etiology after other more common causes of coma have been excluded. Cases of catatonic coma are nevertheless important to identify because treatment with intravenous benzodiazepines is simple and highly effective. The authors argue that the descriptive term "catatonic coma" is preferable over terms implying psychogenesis, such as "psychogenic" or "hysterical" coma; for catatonia, the authors have a specific treatment, in the form of benzodiazepines; for "psychogenesis," there is none.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Freudenreich, O; McEvoy, JP; Goff, DC; Fricchione, GL

Published Date

  • 2007

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 48 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 74 - 78

PubMed ID

  • 17209155

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0033-3182

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1176/appi.psy.48.1.74

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • England